Democrat Lawmakers Push Back on Reported FBI Probe Following Military Order Comments
Democrat lawmakers who urged US military personnel to disobey illegal commands are now responding to what they call a federal inquiry into their conduct.
Notification of Probe
Democratic Legislator Elissa Slotkin of the state of Michigan announced that the FBI on Monday notified the six congressional members who appeared in last week's video about the examination.
"Any attempt at intimidation or targeting will never stop us from performing our duties and upholding our Constitution," several Congressional representatives declared.
Executive Response
Their statement to military members prompted US President Trump to allege the Democrats of "seditious behavior, carrying capital punishment" and triggered a Pentagon examination of "significant claims of misconduct" against Democrat Legislator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who likewise appeared in the video.
The Justice Department declined to provide statement on the reported investigation.
Recording Details
The video by Democratic officials, all of whom have worked in the military or intelligence community, was distributed last week by the Michigan senator and includes Kelly and US Representatives Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow.
The message emerged amid increasing friction between the current administration and the government of Venezuela, as well as Democratic-controlled cities resisting Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to the region.
FBI Involvement
Slotkin stated on Tuesday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's national security division sent a notification to the legislators to notify them of an alleged investigation into the lawmakers.
"His reaction and the deployment of the FBI against us is exactly why we created the recording," she said at an event in her home state.
"He thinks in employing the national government against his perceived adversaries, and he's not hesitant to use the resources of the government against individuals he disagrees with," she said, describing Trump's behavior as "intimidation."
Congressional Response
Likewise, Congress members Deluzio, Goodlander, Houlahan and Crow said that the President is using the Federal Bureau as "tool to intimidate and harass" members of Congress, confirming that the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms to arrange meetings.
"We took an oath to support and protect the Constitution of the United States. That commitment is permanent, and we plan to keep it. We will not be bullied. We will never give up the ship," they declared.
Presidential Reaction
The video - in which the Arizona senator alleged the administration of "pitting our armed forces and intelligence community personnel against American citizens" - provoked the President's anger and he suggested on social media that they be detained, locked up and hanged.
His words received cross-party condemnation and the chief executive ultimately retracted his remarks in a television appearance, clarifying that he was "not threatening capital punishment."
Pentagon Response
On Monday, the Defense Department accused Senator Kelly, a former officer in the Navy and space explorer, of breaching armed forces regulations. The military leadership announced it would conduct a examination to determine whether the Arizona lawmaker should be recalled to military service to undergo court-martial proceedings.
Even though the senator retired from the military, he is nevertheless bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice - a federal law established by Congress in 1951 that subjects personnel of the military to a unique system of rules.
Defense Secretary Comment
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth charged Kelly of breaking the UCMJ and of employing his position and service affiliation as a way to provide "the impression of authority to his words" in the video.
He continued that the senator's behavior "brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed properly."
Senator Kelly's
But the Arizona senator likewise pushed back, saying that he has "given significant service to this country to be silenced by bullies who prioritize their own power than defending the founding document."
Reports suggested on the following day that the FBI and Justice Department contacted Congressional security to schedule interviews with the six legislators.
The FBI refused to provide statement on Tuesday when approached by media outlets.